Prayer for
Transfiguration- O God, in the glorious transfiguration of Your
only-begotten Son You once confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the
testimony of the ancient fathers, and in the voice that came from the bright
cloud You wondrously foreshowed our adoption by grace. Therefore mercifully
make us coheirs with our King of His glory, and bring us to the fullness of our
inheritance in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
A Study for Transfiguration
Sunday
“The Vision Glorious”
25, February – 02 March, 2019
“The Vision Glorious”
25, February – 02 March, 2019
Monday, 25 February, 2019- Acts 2:42 - We celebrate the Transfiguration of our
Lord on the last Sunday in the season of Epiphany. For our verse for today, I
have used to describe what we are trying to accomplish here at Zion. Luke gives
us a description of the 1st Century church and this is what is
needed as we enter the 21st Century. We are to be one in doctrine,
fellowship, sacramental living, and in prayer. These are the four legs upon which
the table is set. All that we do at Friedheim needs to relate to this verse.
God has blessed us greatly these past 181 years. May He continue to bless us
mightily in the years to come.
A prayer on the occasion of our congregation’s 181st
anniversary Lord, we
pray that You will deepen within each of us a sense of gratitude for the many sacrifices
made for us by those who have gone before us, and thereby find this parish a
house of peace, a safe haven and a harbor of hope. May we continue to see, by
faith, the needs of those around us and the needs of those who shall come after
us, and do all that is possible to show to them our witness in word and deed of
the riches of life with Christ. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
Tuesday, 26 February,
2019- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 - Moses
sees God face to face and the promised land- Just before his death,
Moses climbs Mount Nebo and from there is shown the Promised Land. He would not
be permitted to cross over, but he was able to see it. Moses had faithfully led
the people of Israel, and at last his work was done. He had done all he could,
his time had come, and it was time for him to cross over to an even greater
land than that which his eye beheld. The Scriptures remind us that Moses’
eye was not dim – he had perfect vision. What secret did Moses possess? Verse
10 gives us a clue. Moses was a man “whom
the Lord knew face to face.” Moses was able to make keen decisions
because he kept his eye on God. May that be our legacy, to keep our focus on
God. May that be our vision for our parish, to keep our focus on
Christ.
Wednesday, 27 February,
2019 - 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 – Christians
see the glory of God in Jesus - Who is this Jesus? That is the question the
world has been asking for close to 2,000 years. Paul reminds us that by
faith we are able to see the glory of God in Jesus Christ. He is more than just
a mere man. He is more than just a prophet. He is, as Thomas will confess in
the Easter season, “My Lord and My God.”
The world wants Jesus to be anything but God. A true confession calls for
us to say that above anything else He is the Lord of life.
Thursday,28 February, 2019 - Luke 9:28-36 – The Disciples see the glory of God
-The disciples early on might have had some misgiving of just who or what
to make of this Jesus. After the Transfiguration, there wasn’t any doubt in
their minds. They knew that He was the promised Savior of the world.
There on the mountain Jesus manifested all of His glory as the Father spoke His
approval of His only begotten Son. But why Moses and Elijah? Both came from a
storied history of God’s people of old. In Moses’ time, the people followed
willingly as they escaped Egypt. At the time of Elijah, only 7,000 were left
who had not bowed down to Baal. These two men represent high and low
points of God’s people of Israel. There have been highs and lows in our parish
history; yet One remains constant to this day. His Name is Jesus. May Christ
Jesus remain the center of all that we do here at Zion.
Friday, 01 March, 2019 - Psalm 77 – David reminds us that he cries out to
God. David cries out loud and God promised that He would hear. What a wonderful
promise. What a wonderful picture of prayer. Why do we pray? We pray because of
our need and the Father’s promise to answer our cry. Need we any other reason
to pray? Zion, Friedheim, is a unique and special place. God has been
good to us. No, we are not perfect and, yes, there have been times in which we
have had to cry out to God. But every time we needed Him, He has always been
there for us. One hundred eighty one years is a long time. It’s nothing to
God. He has not changed and will not change. Cry to Him. He is near to hear
your prayer and to answer you according to His good and gracious will.
Saturday, 02 March, 2019- Matthew 17:4 – “It’s
great to be here!” That’s how Peter put it. Maybe it wasn’t the most
eloquent way of expressing himself, but again, Matthew reminds us that Peter, “Didn’t know what to say.” As we
consider both the wonder of Christ’s glorious Transfiguration and the many
blessings we have been permitted to experience here at Zion Friedheim these 181 years, it is good, it is great to be here! May the
Lord continue to
shower down His blessings upon us as we enter our 181st year of
mission and ministry and as we take a pilgrimage into Lent to the cross and
empty tomb. Yes, ‘tis good, Lord, to be
here!
Prayer for aid against temptation: O God, You justify the ungodly and desire not the death of the sinner. Graciously assist us by Your heavenly aid and evermore shield us with Your protection, that no temptation may separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer in times of temptation: Almighty and everlasting God, through Your Son You have promised us forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. Govern our hearts by Your Holy Spirit that in our daily need, and especially in all time of temptation, we may seek Your help and, by a true and lively faith in Your Word, obtain all that You have promised; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
This Week’s Morning Prayer Readings
Read and review the following Bible stories for each day…
Monday, February 25 - Peter confesses Jesus – Matt.16:13-23
Tuesday, February 26–The Transfiguration-Matt.17:1-13
Wednesday, February 27– Chapel Day
Thursday, February 28- Jesus heals a boy-Matt.17:14-21
Friday, March 1 – The Rich Man & Lazarus-Luke 16:19-31
From the Catechism; Psalm 23
Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006Concordia Publishing House
Woodcut by Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, a nineteenth-century German artist known especially for his book Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (‘The Book of Books in Pictures’), ©WELS.
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